One Play: Film look at how LB play sealed Cowboys' fate on final drive

One Play: Film look at how LB play sealed Cowboys' fate on final drive

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked unstoppable on the Green Bay Packers game-winning drive. However, the Dallas Cowboys had an opportunity to end the drive prematurely. Instead Rodgers slipped through their fingers and high-stepped his way to a crucial first down.

So what happened?

screencap via video.nfl.com

The Packers are in 11 personnel but have tight end Martellus Bennett split out wide at the top of the screen.

The Cowboys counter with their 3-2-6 “Deacon” lineup. From left to right, Dallas has Demarcus Lawrence, David Irving, and Benson Mayowa rushing the passer. The two linebackers, Justin Durant and Anthony Hitchens, sugar the A and B gaps around the left guard.

Meanwhile the defensive backs, including safety Byron Jones, are close to the line of scrimmage hoping to give the rushers time.

screencap via video.nfl.com

Though neither linebacker rushes the passer, their bluff forces the left guard to assume one of them is rushing. This prevents him from double teaming Irving, who’s beaten the center once before for a sack. Lawrence gets double-teamed but still does a good job of pushing the right tackle back. The two have done a good job of tightening the pocket around Rodgers.

The same can’t be said for the Dallas linebackers. Hitchens pulls back to jam the running back coming out of the backfield. However, Durant also has his eyes on the running back and there’s no one else near him to cover.

screencap via video.nfl.com

Rodgers doesn’t like what he sees and decides to bail out of the pocket to his left. Mayowa spins back and manages to get an arm on the quarterback. Irving is also trying to spin away from his blocker and get to Rodgers.

Unfortunately, both linebackers still converged on the running back. It doesn’t appear that either have noticed Rodgers has fled the pocket.

screencap via video.nfl.com

Rodgers breaks through Mayowa’s arm tackle but Irving is hot on his heels. Hitchens appears to pass off the running back to Durant. Even though he’s flatfooted, if he turns for the scrambling quarterback now, he should be able to save a first down.

screencap via video.nfl.com

Instead theirs a miscommunication and both Hitchens and Durant follow the running back, turning their heads far too late. Irving chases after Rodgers but the quarterback is fast enough to escape his diving arms.

Poor linebacking play has plagued the Cowboys since Sean Lee went down with a hamstring injury. Dallas hasn’t been able to stop anyone in his absence and no lead has been safe.

If the Cowboys and their fans don’t want to keep getting their hearts broken, they need their defensive general back on the field.

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